![]() Federer blew past that, accumulating eight at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open and one at the French Open. lmPWTNzjbnīefore Federer, the men’s mark for most major tennis championships was 14 by Pete Sampras. Thank you to everybody who’s coming tonight. ![]() I’ve done this thousands of times, but this one feels different. Thank you to everybody who’s coming tonight,” Federer had posted on Twitter earlier in the day. “I’ve done this thousands of times, but this one feels different. Sock thumped a forehand winner to seal a 4-6 7-6 11-9 win for Team World.Īfter a brief moment of almost silence around the packed arena, the crowd erupted to salute an emotional Federer.Įven Federer’s practice sessions at the O2 were standing room only affairs and an electric atmosphere greeted him as he walked out into the cavernous arena alongside Nadal just after 10pm local time (21:00 GMT) for what would be his last dance. With the clock already well past midnight (23:00 GMT), Federer had the chance to seal victory in the doubles clash when he served at match point in a tense deciding tiebreak but it was not to be as Americans Sock and Tiafoe ruined the script. Team Europe’s Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer during their doubles match against Team World’s Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe on Septem It was poetic that Federer would close things out by sharing a court with Nadal, who was often an on-court nemesis but became an off-court friend. Shortly after that, the Swiss star had a third operation on his right knee. Until Friday, he had not competed anywhere since a quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon in July 2021. In front of a 17,500 sell-out crowd at the O2, Federer returned from more than a year away for a last dance in tandem with his great rival on a gripping and memorable finale by the Thames. It’s been a privilege to witness.Roger Federer wrapped up his superlative professional tennis career at age 41 with a loss in doubles alongside longtime rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup.įederer, who won 20 Grand Slam titles, and Nadal, whose 22 are the men’s record, paired up for Team Europe and were beaten on Friday night by Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock of Team World 4-6, 7-6 (2), 11-9 at the O2 Arena in London. “It’s been a perfect journey,” he said, tearfully. (At 7-7 in that break, Tiafoe even beaned Federer with a 98-mph forehand-which was fair game-and aimed square at Nadal to set up the match point that quickly resulted in the win for Team World, 4-6, 7-6.) Just in case anybody is keeping actual score of the Laver Cup proceedings amidst all this: It’s Team Europe 2, Team World 2.Īn intensely emotional Federer thanked the crowd, and his fans, and his family, with his customary grace. ![]() What looked, deep in the second set, to be a somewhat shocking straight-set victory for Rafa and Federer and Team Europe turned out to require a rare match tie-break (a so-called Laver Breaker), which was neck-and-neck throughout, to the thrill of the crowd. And while the humor and the bonhomie was never lacking, this wasn’t an exhibition: Tiafoe and Sock made it quite clear before the match that they would be playing for keeps and pulling no punches. ![]() The match itself featured everything from the ridiculous (Federer leaping in to take a killer forehand that, by all rights, was Nadal’s to handle-the two had a good laugh about it immediately afterward) to the sublime (lengthy rapid-fire tête-à-têtes involving rocket volleys, blistering inside-out forehands, and looping topspin lobs, with the occasional net-cord mishap thrown in for good measure). “I have a practice in the morning,” she tweeted, “but sleep needs to wait tonight.” Iga Swiatek, the world number-one on the women’s side, was forced to consider her priorities-and it wasn’t even close. Carlos Alcaraz tweeted, simply, “Who’s watching Laver Cup?” and then, mere minutes later, posted three sobbing emojis. And if they couldn’t be there in person, virtually everybody in the tennis world tuned in from wherever they were to watch history being made. Tennis pros, both active and retired, and fans flooded London’s O2 Arena for the event-we’ll have a full report on the scene for you tomorrow. ![]()
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